Celebrating 75 Years – No. 1 Flying Boat Repair Depot, Lake Boga 1942-2017 – Part II

75th anniversary celebrations for the former World War Two RAAF No. 1 Flying Boat Repair Depot at Lake Boga, Victoria

The 75th anniversary celebrations on March 18th, 2017 for the former World War Two RAAF No. 1 Flying Boat Repair Depot at Lake Boga, Victoria (the base was active from 1942-1947) continued in the afternoon with the aerobatic performers and warbirds (see my previous post) being joined by modern military aircraft with the RAAF Roulettes display team flying the Pilatus PC-9/A from RAAF East Sale putting on a great “high show” and an RAAF Lockheed AP-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft from RAAF Edinburgh in South Australia snuck up behind the crowd for a fast and low flypast. The sneaky Orion gave people quite a surprise (luckily I was listening out for it and turned around quickly enough to get a photo as it did one pass and was gone)!

Celebrating 75 Years – Flying Displays

The RAAF Roulettes arrive in style over Lake Boga for the 75th anniversary celebration March 2017 — The RAAF Roulettes arrive in style over Lake Boga for the 75th anniversary celebration

RAAF Roulettes "High Show" over Lake Boga (March 2017) — RAAF Roulettes “High Show” over Lake Boga (March 2017)

RAAF Roulettes Lake Boga 75 — The RAAF Roulettes are the Air Force’s aerobatic display team and currently fly the Pilatus PC-9/A trainer. Roulette pilots are Qualified Flying Instructors from the Central Flying School based at RAAF East Sale

RAAF Roulettes over Lake Boga March 2017 — What a setting – a sunny sky and the RAAF Roulettes over Lake Boga

The RAAF Roulettes over Lake Boga for the 75th anniversary celebration March 2017 — The RAAF Roulettes break over Lake Boga to fill the sky!

RAAF Roulettes cross over Lake Boga 75 March 2017 — RAAF Roulettes cross over

Inverted mirror pass RAAF Roulettes Lake Boga 75 — Inverted mirror pass

RAAF Lockheed AP-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft Lake Boga 75th celebrations — RAAF Lockheed AP-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft sneaks up fast and low behind the crowd at the Lake Boga 75th anniversary celebrations

RAAF Lockheed AP-3C Orion over Lake Boga March 2017 — RAAF Lockheed AP-3C Orion over Lake Boga

The air displays were accompanied by flying boat and car club static displays (I missed the cars as they were down the other end of the lake from where I was) and entertainment from the Pacific Belles. Formal ceremonies included presentations from local politicians, RAAF Air Marshall Davies – Chief of Air Force (a local Kerang boy) and a World War Two Lake Boga veteran.

Lake Boga 75th Anniversary Celebrations Formal Ceremony & Entertainment - Pacific Belles, Air Marshal Davies & WW2 veteran presentations March 2017 — Lake Boga 75th Anniversary Celebrations Formal Ceremony & Entertainment – Pacific Belles, Air Marshal Davies & WW2 veteran presentations

The nose section of former RAAF Martin Mariner flying boat A70-9 (one of 12 operated by the RAAF during WW2) was turned into a caravan back in the 1950's - glad to see the original nose art was retained! — The nose section of former RAAF Martin Mariner flying boat A70-9 (one of 12 operated by the RAAF during WW2) was turned into a caravan back in the 1950’s – glad to see the original nose art was retained! (March 2017)

The Martin Mariner caravan and the way it would have once looked - RAAF Martin Mariner display in the Lake Boga Flying Boat Museum — The Martin Mariner caravan and the way it would have once looked – RAAF Martin Mariner display in the Lake Boga Flying Boat Museum (March 2017)

Various flying boats and even a working Continental R-975-EC2 9 cylinder radial engine from a WW2 M3 Lee tank at Lake Boga (March 2017)

Modern day flying boats at Lake Boga (March 2017)

Given Lake Boga was the key reason for the 75th anniversary celebrations it made sense for their to be some action on the water too. Speed boat and water skiing displays were conducted during the morning and afternoon, including the unique Air Chair which the skiers put through some pretty impressive aerobatics of their own. A bonus was the Wolf Pitts Pro vs speedboat race! All in all a good days entertainment in perfect weather.